Process and apparatus for cleaning caked and imbedded matter from animal hides



Allg- 23, 1950 w. F. MccARTNE-Y ETAL 2,949,760

RRocEss AND APPARATUS FoR CLEANING CAKED AND IMBEDDED MATTER FROM ANIMAL mnEs WILL/AM F MCCARTNEY JAMES HANNA per:

Agent Aug. 23, 1960 w. F. MccAR-rNEY ETAL 2,949,760

PROCESS AND APPARATUS FOR CLEANING CAKED AND IMBEDDED MATTER FROM ANIMAL HIDES Filed June 25, 1956 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 J HANNA 4 WF. MFCARTNEY BY 2mm agent PROCESS AND APPARATUS FOR CLEANING CAKED AND ft MA'ITER FROM ANIMAL mills Filed .lune 25, 1956, Ser. No. 593,648

28 Claims. (Cl. 69-37) The invention is principally concerned with the cleaning of caked and imbedded foreign matter from animal hides.

Almost immediately after a hide is stripped from an animal carcass, its iiesh iside is :fairly liberally spread with coarse commercial salt containing a fair percentage of insoluble impurities known as stone and it is then stored for a month or so pending 4further processing at which time the salt and stone has precedently to be removed or cleaned from the surface, at least, of the hide.

The hides are stored in a more or less humid atmosphere which tends to cause caking of the free, un- :absorbed salt. Moreover, they are stacked in piles whereby the weight of the superior hides presses the stone more or less deeply into the flesh of the lower hides in the pile and imbeds it firmly therein. The said salt and stone, hereinafter known as foreign matter, thereyfore cling quite tenaciously to the hides and vigorous measures are necessary to loosen or dislodge `it so that it can then be conveniently removed as by sweeping, brushing, shaking and so forth.

The application of vigorous measures to break up the salt crystals and dislodge the imbedded materials is complicated by the danger of injury to the hide and a corresponding decrease in its market value.

The invention therefore seeks as one of its foremost objects to provide a safe and efficient method for dislodging the foreign matter from the said hide.

More particularly, the invention seeks to provide such a process which is adaptable to mechanization so that it can be performed on rapid, automatic equipment.

With a view to avoiding hide damage by reducing the handling ofthe hide to a minimum, the invention further seeks to accomplish the foregoing objectives by inducing certain mechanical movements in the hide which tend to break up and dislodge the foreoign matter and to a large extent, to procure its actual removal from the hide while the latter is being moved from a pickup point to a discharge point.

It is, of course, a further object to provide eicient, economical, durable and relatively high speed apparatus for carrying out the foregoing processes.

Another object is to provide apparatus on which the hide can be loaded and operatively oriented with a minimum of handling and man power.

Having regard to the fact that an average hide may measure as much as 6 or 7 feet in its minor dimension, it ,is also sought to provide hide cleaning equipment which is compact and occupies a minimum of space and is yet capable of discharging cleaned hides in a spread out state for convenience in subsequent handling.

lt will be noted in the disclosure subsequent hereto that the exemplary apparatus described therein visualizes means further ensuring the safety of the hide by minimizing the force required to transport the hide through the instant apparatus and to discharge it.

As an additional safety measure, the invention further contemplates a novel and inventive hide cleaning eletherewith to form a continuation thereof.

2,949,760? Patented Aug. 23, 1960 2 ment which is adapted to yield below the stress capacity of the hide `without impairing its function. In fact, said element is so designed that its function is actually enhanced when it yields as aforesaid.

The foregoing and other more or less broad objects of the invention which will duly appear are realized by the exemplary means respectively disclosed and illustrated in the following specication and in the attached drawing wherein like reference vdevices refer to like parts and wherein:

Fig. l is a side elevational View of equipment designed and Iadapted tocarry out the present inventive ideas, and carrying two hides shown in dotted lines,

Fig. 2 is a broken top plan view thereof,

Fig. 3 isa view of a hide cleaning element contemplated by the invention,

Fig. 4 is a section along the line lV--IV in Fig. 1,

Fig. 5 a diagram of an operative characteristic of the invention, and

Fig. 6 an enlarged View of an adjustable detail taken from Fig, 2.

Before dealing lwith the present apparatus it would, perhaps, be expedient to discuss briefly the process expressed thereby.

In the experiments culminating in the invention, it was found that by inducing rapid iiuttering, waving, un- `dulation and such other regular cyclical, rhythmic movements which `do not necessarily impart a change in location, the salt caking tended to shatter and break its bond with the hide while the stone was worked out of the pockets in which it was imbedded; becoming, thereafter, readily removable by sweeping, brushing, and/or scraping, or even by actual rebound from the hide while the latter is agitated.

ln carrying out the inventive idea, it is important that the hide area being treated, at least, @be spread out in space as by suspension whereby it is unobstructed and hence free to reciprocate as in fluttering or waving. Rapid staccato `forces are then applied thereto in the manner and by the means hereinafter disclosed to set up or induce mechanical reactions culminating in the aforesaid cyclical, reciprocatory movements; each contributing to a greater or lesser 'degree to the accomplishment of the desired objectives. It should and will be observed that extreme violence is not essential to the proper carrying out of the inventive idea; the total force required to be exerted on the hide being only enough to induce the reciprocation aforesaid.

The instrumentalities visualized for directly applying this force on the hide were carefully selected with regard to the safety of the hide. For example, it will be recalled that while vigorous treatment of the hide is necessary yet it must not be so vigorous as to cause damage thereto. The said instrumentalities are therefore formed of a substance-rubber in this instancewith sufiicient inherent rigidity to move the hide and even to strike it briskly but also with enough resilience to yield and bend below the stress capacity of the latter. Moreover, each said instrumentality is so shaped and directed that when bent, it presents a new surface adapted to massage the hide andeven, under appropriate conditions, to scrape the foreign matter from it; these extra functions being served additionally and not alternately to the others.

The foregoing constitute some of the more salient aspects of the present process; others being readily, and perhaps more, apparent from the description of the apparatus which now follows.

The apparatus selected for illustrative purposes includes the structure comprised of the narrow, elongated support 10 with the channel 11 in its surface and the much wider table 12 arranged in end to end relation Table 12 also has a channel 13 which is aligned and communicates with that in the support 10. For reasons which will appear, the channel 13 is not central of the table 12 but is axially offset. The support and table 12 are upwardly inclined towards their juncture 14 not only to enhance the efiiciency of the present apparatus but also to save tioor space.

Said structure comprising support 10 and table 12 are mounted on a frame 15 which is preferably of skeletal construction to leave a clear space beneath the support 10, at least. It will also be noted that the free ends 16 and 17 thereof overhang the frame 15 in cantilever fashion.

Recessed for travelling in the aligned and communicating channels 11 and 13 is 'an endless tractional device 18 such as the conveyor chain shown which is trained and travels over idlers suitably located on the structure, say at its ends 16 and 17 and at juncture 14; it having a driving wheel 17" at end 17 motivated by driving means such as sprocket 19 located beneath the said structure and operatively connected, in turn, to motor M mounted on frame 15.

Hide engaging facilities comprising a number of regand then subjected to the cleaning treatment to be described. Preferably, when the hide is completely mounted on the support 10, another spike 20 will present itself at end 16 and a fresh hide will be similarly engaged thereon and drawn upon the support 10 while its predecessor is being moved onto the table 12.

Means such as the bifurcated wedge 22 straddles channel 13 at the table end 17 of the structure and pries the hide off the spike 20 when and as the hide is finally and completely deposited on the table 12. The axial displacement of the table channel 13 places the central, tractional, axis of the hide within easy reach of an operator standing at the appropriate side of the table 12 and thus facilitates its removal.

Since the eye-hole 21 is in its median axis, the hide, when tirst engaged and drawn thereon will tend to saddle the support 10 with its sides depending freely therefrom in space as in Fig. 1 being thus rendered free to liutter, vibrate or, in fact, go through any like sustained cyclical movement in the direction of their thickness.

Moreover, as a result of its uphill climb on the support 1%, gravity and friction will co-operate with the applied traction to spread and stretch out the hide, thus preparing it for the treatment to be described.

When the hide is finally deposited on the table 12, it should be mainly outspread for convenient handling and removal. To spread it from the depending position on support 10, the confronting end of the table 12 is splayed as shown to present camming edges 23-23 which Aintervene between the depending hide sides and lift them as the hide moves onto the table 12.

To facilitate subsequent removal of the hide from table 12, rollers 24 may be provided on at least one edge thereof.

Besides contributing to the outstretching of the hide on the support 10 as has been shown, the upward inclination of the latter also expedites the initial handling of the hide. It will be appreciated that the end 116 of the structure herein visualized may be fairly close to the ground. Thus to mount a relatively heavy hide of 75 lbs., more or less, on the support 10, it is only necessary to raise and engage its head portion onto a spike f 4 20 When the latter rounds idler 16. Thereafter, the tractional device 13 will complete the pick up of the hide and will progressively mount it on the support 10.

For aiding in the cleaning of caked and imbedded foreign matter from hides, the invention contemplates a cleaning element at each side of the suppo1t 10; being stationed adjacent its juncture 14 with the table 12 as shown and subsequently described and adapted to beat or bring mechanical forces (as distinguished from pneumatic forces) to bear on the hide for the accomplishmeut of the desired result.

In essence, each cleaning element 30 is a rotary device with a shaft 31 upon which it turns and which is more or less erect; being, however, inclined with its axis substantially normal to the plane of the support 1t! for obvious reasons.

A plurality of fingers 32 are rooted in the said shaft 31 and radiate therefrom. These are arranged in discrete rows 33 which parallel the axis of the shaft 31. Each is formed of a resilient material such as rubber, for example, and its free end is Wedge-shaped to define the plane surface 35 which may be ribbed. This shaping of the finger 32 renders it capable of yielding to extra-ordinary stress which is that in excess of the stress capacity of the hide. When (Fig. 5) it does so yield, its plane surface 35 is brought into operative relation to the hide with the results mentioned later on herein.

Said cleaning element 30 is motivated by any suitable means such as that shown in Fig.v 2 at the top thereof to turn against the flow of the hide as it crosses the structure comprised of the support 10 and table 12. Its proximity to the support 10 is shown schematically in Fig 5 wherein 36 is an arc described by a revolving finger row 33 and 37 is the average plane of a hide depending from the support 10. As each linger row 33 revolves in the indicated direction, it will first strike the hide with a substantial percussive force ata. 4Continuing its travel of the arc 36, it will displace the hide rearwardly, in the direction of its thickness, until the crest b of the arc 36 is reached. From that point on, it will recede with the hide now moving forwardly yin pursuit, until the parts lose contact at point c. By this time, another finger row 33 will have reached and struck the hide at a; abruptly terminating its forward movement. Thus it will be seen that the hide area 38, at least, which lies within reach of the finger row 33 (between points a and c in Fig. 5) is repeatedly subjected to percussive forces which contribute to the breaking up and dislodgement of the foreign matter and its removal from the hide.

There is, however, another mechanical reaction which takes place at this time. It will be recalled that the fingers 32 yield at or below the stress capacity of the hide area 3S being treated Athereby and present their plane surfaces 35 thereto. When this occurs, the result is a massaging action which tends to drag the hide counter to the direction in which it is being drawn by the tractional device 18.

The hide being somewhat pliable and otherwise free to move in this reverse direction by virtue of its suspension in space is carried back until the linger 32. withdraws therefrom at point c in Fig. 5 thus releasing the hide and permitting it to be snapped ahead by the device 1S. This alternate stretching and relaxation of the hide is another of the sustained cyclical movements which are induced in the hide to procure the breaking up and dislodgement of the caked and imbedded foreign matter.

Special mention 4is now deemed to be warranted of the fact that the forces acting on the hide to induce the aforesaid cyclical movements are intermittent as distinguished from constant. The hide being outspread in space, the intermittence of the forces first displaces the hide from an average, at rest, position and then permits its reactive swing back towards the said position to complete each cycle. Thel reactive swing is then, of course,

- interrupted and abruptly terminated by the resumption Of the said displacing force.

The abrupt termination of one half of each cycle as herein visualized being effected against inertia has a jarring effect on the hide and thus assists substantially in the achievement of the objectives of the invention.

rhis advantage is largely dependent upon the freedom of the hide to move in space and, of course, upon the intermittence of the forces applied thereto as contemplated.

The massage of the hide by the finger planes '35 will obviously also sweep away any broken up and dislodged matter in their path.

Needless to say, what the instant apparatus does is to so treat the several hide areas sequentially as the hide moves across the structure aforesaid.

Several interdependent factors govern the rapidity with which this treatment is performed; these being, namely; the number of finger rows 33 carried by the cleaning element 36; the length of the fingers 32; the linear speed of the tractional device 18; the rotational and peripheral speed of the cleaning element 30; the pliability, and inertia of the hide, and so forth.

En timing the instant apparatus, however, the factor to be principally considered is, naturally, the frequency and amplitude of the sustained cyclical movement induced in the hide. While such movement is ordinarily relatively substantial, it need be only sutiicient to procure the breaking up and dislodgement of the foreign matter whose resistance thereto is also variable according, for example, to the time that the hide has been in storage, the depth to which the stone has been imbedded therein and so forth.

Still lanother factor which must not be overlooked is the proximity of the cleaning element 3? to the structure since excessive nearness as well as excessive separation may decrease the e'ciency of the apparatus, having regard, of course, to the physical properties of the hides proposed to be treated. For example, the treatment of small, light-weight, hides will obviously demand a change from the proximity of the parts as best suited to the treatment of larger and heavier hides.

One simple means for varying the proximity of the parts will now be described by way of example only. Such means is carried on some of the members of the frame which are appropriately formed for the purpose. A meticulous description of such members has been heretofore and will hereinafter be avoided for the sake of brevity and clarity herein; such description being deemed unnecessary since the frame 15 is of more or less standard construction with conventional upright and horizontal parts. However, from the simple explanations given herein any one in the art should be able to understand and meet the requirements.

Each cleaning element 3i) is journalled for rotation in upper and lower bearing plates 40 and 41 with the shaft 31 projecting therethrough. Said plates are longer than the diameter of the cleaning element so that they protrude beyond it on each side. The plate ends on one side of the cleaning element 30 are rigidly interconnected by stile 42 to form a unitary structure while the other ends are pivotally connected as at and 41 to appropriately located parts of frame 15 to swing, on an axis paralleling that of the cleaning element 3d, either towards or away from the support 10.

The upper bearing plates liti-40 of the two cleaning elements 30-30 `are inter-connected by links 43--43 which are, in turn, joined in angular relation to each other to junction block 44 :at the end of jack screw 45 threadedly engaged in fixed threaded sleeve 46 suitably supported on suitably extended parts of frame 15.

The advancement or retraction of the jack screw will now move the junction block 44 correspondingly either to spread the links 431-43 or draw them closer together. Spreading of the links 4.3-4.3 will obviously spread the cleaning elements Sii- 30 and vice versa substantially yas suggested by the solid and broken linesy in Fig. 6.

A turntable 47 is provided on each cleaning element shaft 31 between the uppermost strata of fingers 32 and the upper bearing plate y40. The diameter of said turntable 47 is suflicient to ensure that its peripheral portion will overhang the support 10. Fingers 32 depending from said peripheral portion are provided for brushing the hide `area riding on the support 10.

What we claim as our invention is:

1. In the cleaning of caked and imbedded foreign matter from `animal hides, the process which includes the Steps of spreading at least one area of a hide in space and of inducing sustained cyclical movement therein of substantial frequency and amplitude to break up and dislodge the said foreign matter; said cyclical movement being induced by regularly and rapidly beating one side only of said hide with the other side thereof being unsupported against such beating.

2. The process set forth in claim l wherein a portion of each cycle of movement is `abruptly interrupted.

3. The process set forth in claim 1 wherein the step of inducing said cyclical movement includes continuous traction on the hide in one direction and intermittent dragging impulses on said hide area in a counter-tractional direction.

4. The process set forth in claim 1 wherein the step of inducing said cyclical movement includes continuous traction on the hide in one direction and massaging one side only of the hide area in a counter-tractional direction.

5. In the cleaning of caked and imbedded foreign matter from `animal hides, the process which includes the steps of engaging a hide by a peripheral portion thereof, of drawing at least one area of the hide into an outstretched depending position in space yand of inducing sustained cyclical movement therein of substantial frequency and amplitude to break up `and dislodge the said foreign matter; said cyclical movement being induced by regularly and rapidly beating one side only of said hide area with the `other side thereof being unsupported against such beating.

6. In the cleaning of caked and imbedded foreign matter from anim-al hides, the process which includes the steps of engaging 'a hide by a peripheral portion thereof, and of drawing at least one area of the hide into an outstretched and depending position in space, of continuing the drawing of the said area past `and with one side thereof in engagement with fingers regularly and rapidly beating said hide area in a direction counter to that in which the hide is being drawn, the other side thereof being unsupported against such beating.

7. In the cleaning of caked and imbedded foreign matter from animal hides, the process which includ the steps of engaging la hide by a peripheral portion thereof, of drawing at least one area of the hide along a course in an outstretched depending position in space and of regularly and rapidly beating one side only of said hide area while it is being drawn along the said course, the other side thereof being unsupported against said beating, said beating inducing sustained cyclical movement in the said hide `area generally perpendicul-arly to the plane of the hide and also along the plane of the hide; said induced cyclical movements being of substantial frequency and amplitude to break up and dislodge the said foreign matter.

8. In the cleaning of caked and imbedded foreign matter from animal hides, the process which includes the steps yof suspending a hide in outstretched position from a support, and of drawing the hide along and progressive.- ly off the support; one side of successive areas of the hide being sequentially brought into engagement with iingers regularly and rapidly beating said hide `areas while the hide is being drawn lalong the said support, the other side thereof being unsupported against such beating.

9. The process set forth in claim 8 wherein said fingers move in a direction counter to the motion of the hide along the support.

10. In the cleaning of caked and imbedded foreign matter from animal hides, the process which includes the steps of picking up a hide, of Saddling it on a support with substantially the whole hide depending from said support on opposite sides thereof, of moving it -progressively along and oif said support and of finally depositing and releasing the hide at a discharge point; the hide being subjected to a cleaning action while moving along the support to the said discharge point.

11. In the cleaning of caked and imbedded foreign matter from animal hides, the process which includes the steps of picking up a hide at a pickup point, of saddling it on a support with substantially the whole hide depending from said support on opposite sides thereof, of moving it progressively along said support towards a discharge point, and of finally depositing and releasing the hide at said discharge point; movement of a sustained cyclical nature being induced in the hide while moving as aforesaid; said movement being of substantial frequency and amplitude to break up and dislodge said foreign matter.

12. The process set forth in claim l1 wherein said cyclical movement is induced along the plane of the hide and also generally perpendicularly thereto.

13. The process set forth in claim ll wherein said cyclical movement is produced by intermittent forces acting on the hide in a direction counter to the direction in which the hide travels-from the pickup to the discharge point.

14. The process set forth in claim 11 wherein said cyclical movement is produced by intermittent forces acting percussively on the hide and also massaging it in a direction counter to the direction of its travel from the pickup to the discharge point.

i5. In the cleaning of caked and imbedded foreign matter from animal hides, the process which includes the steps of engaging a hide, of drawing the hide upwardly onto a support, the hide becoming outstretched by gravity and friction as it is drawn up the support and depending freely therefrom on opposite sides thereof, of then drawing it along the said support towards a discharge point, and of releasing and depositing it at the said discharge point; the said hide while in motion being subjected to intermittent forces inducing sustained cyclical movement therein of substantial frequency and amplitude to break up and dislodge the said foreign matter.

16. Apparatus for use in cleaning caked and imbedded foreign matter from animal hides including, in combination, a frame; an elevated elongated support on said frame of such width as to engage only a small portion of the hide width; means for progressively arranging a hide on said support `and for moving the hide at a controlled rate along the said support, and a cleaning element positioned for engagement with an arca of said hide as it moves along the said support and applying intermittent forces thereto timed to induce sustained cyclical movement therein of substantial frequency and amplitude to break up and dislodge the said foreign matter.

17. The apparatus set forth in claim 16 wherein said support is inclined upwardly from a pickup point.

18. The apparatus set forth in claim 16 wherein the said support has a channel and the means for arranging the hide and moving it on the support is an endless tractional device running within the channel and having hide engaging facilities projecting therefrom.

19. The apparatus set forth in claim 16 wherein the cleaning element is rotatable about an axis against the flow of the hide as it moves along the support and includes a plurality of fingers radiating from said -axis in discrete, axiallyparallel, rows angularly separated frorn one another; said fingers being adapted to yield to extraordinary stress, but being strong enough to regularly and rapidly beat said hide on rotation of said cleaning element as aforesaid and induce sustained cyclical movement therein of substantial frequency and amplitude to break up and dislodge the said foreign matter.

20. Apparatus for use in cleaning caked and imbedded foreign matter from successive animal hides including, in combination, a frame; an elevated elongated support on said frame of such width as to engage only a small portion of the hide width; a continuation of said support; means for progressively arranging a hide on the support and for moving the hide at a controlled rate along the said support and onto the said continuation, and a cleaning element positioned for engagement with successive portions of an area of said hide as it moves along the said support; said cleaning element applying intermittent forces to the hide area timed to induce sustained cyclical movement therein of substantial frequency and ampliture; said continuation supporting a precedently cleaned portion of said hide area while a succeeding portion thereof is engaged by said cleaning element.

2l. The apparatus set forth in claim 20 wherein the support and the continuation have communicating channels and the means for arranging and moving the hide is an endless device travelling in said channels and having facilities for engaging the hide.

22. The -apparatus set forth in claim 20 wherein the support has a channel and the continuation has a communicating channel and the means for arranging and `moving the hide is an endless device travelling in the Said channel, said means having hide engaging facilities, and said continuation having hide disengaging facilities.

23. The'apparatus set forth in claim 20 wherein said support and said continuation are upwardly inclined towards each other.

24. The apparatus set forth in claim 20 wherein said cleaning element is rotatable about yan axis against the flow of the hide across the said structure, and applies intermittent percussive forces to the hide inducing regular and rapid sustained cyclical movement therein.

25. The apparatus set forth in claim 20 wherein said cleaning element has fingers of resilient material tapering at their tips massaging an area of the hide intermittently during passage of said hide along said support in a direction counter to the direction in which it is being drawn.

26. Apparatus for use in cleaning caked and imbedded foreign matter from successive animal hides including, in combination, a frame; a narrow elongated ,support mounted at an elevation on said frame and having a channel; a continuation of said support with a communieating channel, arranged in end to end relation therewith to form a continuous structure, a tractonal device travelling in said channels and returning there beneath; facilities carried by said fractional device for engaging hides to be drawn across the structure, and at least one cleaning element positioned on at least one side of the structure within reach of and for progressively engaging successive portions of the hide drawn thereacross; said cleaning element rotating against the flow of the hides on said structure and having fingers arranged in discrete, axially parallel rows; said fingers having tapered ends to massage the hides and yieldable to extraordinary stress; said cleaning element rotating at a speed, izo-operating with the speed of the tractional device, to induce sustained cyclical movement in the successive portions of the hides of substantial frequency and amplitude to break up and dislodge the said foreign matter; said continuation supporting precedently cleaned portions of a said hide during the cleaning of successive portions thereof.

27. The apparatus set forth in claim 26 wherein the support and the continuation are upwardly inclined towards each other.

28. The apparatus set forth in claim 26 wherein means for disengaging hides from the said hide engaging facilities are provided at the end of the said continuation remote from said support.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS i0 Hertzsch May 30, 1933 Knight Nov. 23, 1943 Knight Aug. 8, 1944 Witt June 1, 1948 Rhodes Apr. 5, 1949 Hollick Sept. 27, 1949 Knowlton et :111.v Sept. 27, 1949 Hollick July 18, 1950 

